Ancona
| The Ancona | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | Category | Egg Colour | Sitter |
| Italy | Softfeather Light | White | No |
This breed takes its name from the City of Ancona, a port in Italy, from which the first Anconas were shipped to England, where they were first exhibited under this name in the middle of the last century. That Anconas originated from crosses of Italian fowl common in Central Italy is evident by their close resemblance in type and size to the Leghorn breed. Anconas are excellent layers of white eggs; non-sitters and with yellow skin.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
THE MALE
Head. Skull moderately long, deep, and inclined to width. Beak of medium length and moderate curve. Eyes prominent. Comb (a) single or (6) rose : (a) upright, of medium size, with deep serrations and five to seven spikes (broad at their base), the outline forming a regular convex curve, the back following the line of the head, free from "thumb marks" or side spikes ; (b) medium size, low and square front, tapering towards the leader (which should follow the curve of the neck and not be straight out or upwards), the top covered with small coral-like points of even height, and free from hollows. Face smooth. Earlobes inclined to almond shape, of medium size, and free from folds. Wattles long and fine.
Neck long, profusely covered with hackle.
Body moderately long with close and compact plumage ; broad shoulders and narrow saddle ; full round breast carried upwards ; large wings well tucked up ; full tail carried well out.
Legs moderately long. Thighs well apart and almost hidden by the body feathering. Shanks and Feet free from feathers. Toes (four) rather thin, well spread.
Carriage upright, bold and active.
THE FEMALE
With the exception of the single comb, which falls with a single fold and partly hides one side of the face, the general characteristics are similar to those of the cock, allowing for the natural sexual differences.
COLOUR
- Beak yellow shaded with black or horn, preferably not wholly yellow.
- Eyes orange-red with hazel pupil.
- Comb, Face and Wattles bright red, the face free from white.
- Earlobes white.
- Legs and Feet yellow mottled with black.
- Plumage beetle-green with white tippings (the latter free from black or grey streaks), the more evenly V-tipped throughout with white the better, but tipped and not laced or splashed.
- Undercolour black. All the feathers should be black to the roots, with beetle-green surface, and only the tips white.
SERIOUS DEFECTS
- White in face ;
- White or light undercolour ;
- Plumage other than black and white ;
- Any deformity.
SCALE OF POINTS
- Colour and markings : purity of white, quality and evenness of tipping, 20 ;
- Beetle-green ground colour, dark to skin, 15 ;
- Tail, 15
- Head (comb 10, eyes 5, beak 5, lobes 5) 25
- Type 10
- Legs 5
- Condition 5
- Size 5
APPROXIMATE WEIGHTS
These are taken from weights in the American Standard and are only a guide.
- Cock 6 lbs (2.7kg)
- Hen 4 1/2 lbs (2kg)
- Cockerel 5 lbs (2.3kg) '
- Pullet 4 lbs (1.8kg)
BPS 1923 gives weights as:
- Male: 6lb to 7lb
- Female: 5lb to 6lb
Bantam weights to be approximately one third of standard weights.
SOURCES
- The American standard of perfection, illustrated. A complete description of recognized varieties of fowls, as revised by [the Association at its 62d-67th annual meetings, 1937-42.] Public Domain accessed from: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009169004
- https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009202629 The Poultry club standards, containing a complete description of all the recognised varieties of fowls, ducks, geese and turkeys, ed. by William W. Broomhead.